Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 95 : Opening the Thousand Gold Treasury

As the boat arrived at Muyeondo, Namgung Min and Jin Sa-wol got off. Behind them, the warriors of the Martial Alliance jumped off and entered Muyeondo.

"Collect the corpses."

At Namgung Min's words, the warriors of the Martial Alliance began to clear away the dead Demonic Cult members.

Namgung Min, who was walking to the rubble of the collapsed pavilion, saw the corpses of Hyung Soo-pung and Cha-yong and stroked his beard.

He still remembered their appearance with Jo Han-yu.

Because of his son's death, he didn't really notice the deaths of other people.

But he had to confirm one death.

"Jo Han-yu's corpse is not here."

Namgung Min muttered and looked around. An Chang-san, who had read Namgung Min's mind, hurriedly approached.

"We are in the process of collecting the corpses."

Hearing An Chang-san's answer, Namgung Min turned his eyes to Jin Sa-wol.

"Did you see Jo Han-yu die?"

"Yes. Jo Maeng-ju seemed to have fallen into a state of qi deviation shortly after driving out Yeon Jeok-sim. After that, he collapsed and died."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Namgung Min was silent.

When a person dies, a corpse remains. But Jo Han-yu was not there. Since there was no corpse, it was hard to believe that he had died.

Jin Sa-wol spoke again.

"Yeon Jeok-sim said that Jo Han-yu's martial arts were the Absorption Demonic Art."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Besides me, all the disciples of the Wudang Sect heard it."

Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok were those Wudang Sect disciples. And they were next to him.

Only then did Namgung Min seem to agree.

As An Chang-san retreated, Jin Sa-wol asked.

"I have something I'm curious about."

"What is it?"

"Did you know that the Demonic Cult was coming? Or did you allow it?"

Hearing Jin Sa-wol's question, Namgung Min smiled strangely.

'Look at this guy.'

Since it was a question that was out of his expectation, he was quite surprised.

In fact, he also knew that Jo Han-yu had learned a demonic art. He just didn't know that the demonic art was the Absorption Demonic Art.

Even that was surprising, but what was more surprising was Jin Sa-wol's question.

"Permission... Is there a reason you think so?"

"The number of Demonic Cult members who entered the inn is large. Is it possible that the Martial Alliance didn't know that so many Demonic Cult members had moved? If they knew and turned a blind eye, it should be seen as permission."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Namgung Min stopped in front of the rubble.

"Half is right, and half is wrong."

"If half is right, what is it?"

"I made a deal."

Namgung Min answered and then looked at the tiger's stone statue. As the two holes caught his eye, he naturally extended his hand.

Jin Sa-wol took out the silver hexagonal ruler and held it out.

"What kind of deal?"

Thwack!

Namgung Min, who held the silver ruler in his hand, inserted the silver ruler into the hexagonal hole.

"They said they would release all the martial arts figures who were captured by the Demonic Cult."

"Did they release them?"

"One hundred and fifty-two are currently passing through Kaifeng and coming to the Alliance."

Namgung Min answered and then moved his head slightly. It meant to take out the golden ruler and insert it into the other hole.

Jin Sa-wol took out the golden ruler, inserted it into the square hole, and said.

"Please give me the Gangnam Grand Inn."

A smile appeared on Namgung Min's face. At the unexpected words, Jin Sa-wol looked different.

"It seems you've changed a lot in the few months I haven't seen you. Did you eat some kind of elixir?"

"I ate the demonic essence pill of the Demonic Cult."

"You ate something precious. The demonic essence pill is an elixir of the Demonic Cult that we also acknowledge."

Jin Sa-wol was facing Namgung Min very carefully. But it seemed he had noticed that his own energy had changed.

'I have to be more careful.'

Jin Sa-wol hid his own energy as much as possible with a sense of caution.

"The innkeeper is dead. The Demonic Cult members have also retreated, and what's left is an inn without a master."

"Isn't your greed too great?"

"The golden ruler is in my hands."

"What if I kill you in one zhang?"

"I'll have to run away with the golden ruler. On top of that, half of the Sea Peak Spirit Map is with me."

"This is an island."

"There's no problem in escaping."

Jin Sa-wol smiled and turned the golden ruler. Namgung Min also turned the hexagonal silver ruler.

Thump-thump-thump!

As the tiger roared and opened the door to the underground, Namgung Min took a step forward first and said.

"First, check if it's true."

At his words, Jin Sa-wol silently followed him down to the underground.

Behind the two who were going down to the Thousand Gold Treasury, a dozen or so bodyguards guarded the entrance.

Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok collected the corpses of Hyung Soo-pung and Cha-yong and sighed.

They didn't feel good.

The two approached Jo Han-yu's corpse, which was a little away.

Jo Han-yu's body, whose head was cut off, was withered. It was like seeing a dry piece of wood.

Jo Han-yu's face, which was full of wrinkles, was also nearby.

Woo Jeong-bong let out a deep sigh.

"They said he learned the Absorption Demonic Art... Is it the influence of the demonic art? The corpse looks like a rotten corpse."

"He tried to kill me and Brother Woo."

"I know."

Woo Jeong-bong answered and then lifted Jo Han-yu's body and placed it next to Hyung Soo-pung. Jo Geom-ok, who had followed, put down his head and then said.

"It's not good for the master's death to be known to the outside."

"That's right."

Woo Jeong-bong frowned with a sigh.

"We have to report it, right?"

"We have to let them know."

"Should we go to Wudang Mountain together?"

"I'm not going."

Jo Geom-ok refused flatly, and Woo Jeong-bong showed a disappointed expression.

An Chang-san, who was collecting the corpses of the Demonic Cult members, approached.

"I don't know the innkeeper's corpse. Do you know?"

"It's near the entrance."

Woo Jeong-bong answered and then moved with An Chang-san to find the innkeeper's corpse.

Jo Geom-ok looked down at Jo Han-yu's corpse blankly and then thought of Jin Sa-wol. The appearance of him killing Jo Han-yu was still a shock to her.

Although Jo Han-yu's death was an unbelievable event, Jin Sa-wol's change was also a hard-to-believe article.

If Jo Han-yu were alive, she would have to become his hands and feet and live with him until Jo Han-yu died. It was because of the Soul-Stealing Needle and the Soul-Stealing Great Law.

It was as if Jin Sa-wol had let her escape from that.

Although she should feel grateful to him, fear came before gratitude.

'Should I run away?'

That thought suddenly crossed her mind. But as Jin Sa-wol's face appeared, she shook her head.

No matter how much she ran, it seemed she would be caught by Jin Sa-wol.

'Anyway, since it's like this, it would be better to stick next to Jin Sa-wol.'

Jo Geom-ok, who had turned her body, headed for the entrance of the Thousand Gold Treasury.

* * *

Namgung Min and Jin Sa-wol were standing in a wave of gold that seemed to be worth millions of nyang.

"How amazing."

Namgung Min, the head of the Namgung family and the leader of the Martial Alliance, also clicked his tongue as he saw the gold coins that filled the Thousand Gold Treasury.

He could not help but be surprised to see in person what he had only heard in rumors.

The death of Namgung Yu temporarily disappeared from his head.

Clink! Clang!

Namgung Min stepped on the gold coins, went up on the single stage, and looked at the various weapons and secret manuals.

"What did you take from here?"

"The Sea Peak Spirit Map and two swords."

At Namgung Min's question, Jin Sa-wol answered honestly. And he took out the Sea Peak Spirit Map and spread it on the table.

Namgung Min moved the chest containing the demonic art manuals and took out the remaining half of the Sea Peak Spirit Map from his sleeve and spread it.

It was the moment when the Sea Peak Spirit Map, which had been divided into two, became one.

Jin Sa-wol memorized the Sea Peak Spirit Map with his eyes and asked.

"Did you bring this?"

"I brought it just in case."

It was an answer that let him know that Namgung Min's purpose was also the Sea Peak Spirit Map.

Jin Sa-wol took a step back.

"Please take the Sea Peak Spirit Map."

"Are you giving it to me?"

"Yes."

"You've memorized it all."

At Namgung Min's words, Jin Sa-wol did not answer. But Namgung Min knew well that it was an affirmation.

"Please give me the inn."

"If I give it to you, can you run it?"

"Yes."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Namgung Min took the Sea Peak Spirit Map and then spoke again.

"What's the reason you covet the inn?"

"It's money. Because what I lack is money."

"Hahahaha!"

Namgung Min laughed heartily.

"Well, money is the best. Hahaha! Yes, good. I'll give it to you. But there's a condition."

"What is it?"

"Bring me Yeon Jeok-sim's neck within half a year."

Jin Sa-wol had a hardened expression. But that was only his outward appearance.

"Half a year is short. Let's make it a year."

"A year..."

Namgung Min contemplated for a moment.

A year.

It was a long time if it was long, and a short time if it was short.

"If you can't bring Yeon Jeok-sim's neck within a year, the Martial Alliance will retrieve the inn."

"Understood."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Namgung Min showed a satisfied expression.

Jin Sa-wol was also satisfied.

Anyway, he was planning to kill Yeon Jeok-sim as soon as possible. So Namgung Min's proposal was not bad for him at all.

"The Martial Alliance will also be chasing Yeon Jeok-sim separately, so don't clash."

"Of course."

"The Thousand Gold Treasury is left."

"Let's split it half and half."

"Isn't your greed excessive?"

Namgung Min looked around at the wave of gold that was as wide as the sea. Jin Sa-wol said.

"The Alliance Leader has the Earth Vault and the Man Vault."

It meant that there were two more safes that Jo Han-yu had left.

Namgung Min smiled.

"I will move half to the Namgung family."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Namgung Min held out the silver ruler and said.

"Do you have any intention of being loyal to me? The Martial Alliance needs people like you."

"I'm sorry."

Jin Sa-wol answered, taking the silver ruler. Namgung Min walked with a disappointed expression and then spoke again.

"The Hao Mun will also claim ownership of the inn. Do your best."

"Understood."

Jin Sa-wol answered and then followed Namgung Min out of the Thousand Gold Treasury.

* * *

As Namgung Min had said, the people of the Hao Mun came that evening.

The entrance of the inn was still blocked by the warriors of the Guguang branch, and they were using a part of the guest rooms.

The warriors of the Namgung family were also still there. They were waiting for Namgung Wi, who was coming from the Namgung family.

Namgung Min was resting in a separate courtyard and seemed to be waiting until Namgung Wi came.

Besides that, disciples from the Wudang Sect were also coming to the inn.

Bi-sun approached Jin Sa-wol, who was standing in front of the rubble of the burnt-out Golden Pavilion.

Jo Geom-ok was taking a walk by the lake, and Woo Jeong-bong was with An Chang-san.

"The master of the Hao Mun has come."

"He came quickly."

"It means that the residence of the Hao Mun master is not far."

That was right. If the distance was far, it would have taken time to come.

And the fact that he had come right away meant that it was that urgent.

Well, considering the scale and income of the Gangnam Grand Inn, it was perhaps natural for the Hao Mun master to come in person.

"He's talking with the Alliance Leader now."

"Let's go slowly."

Jin Sa-wol answered and then looked around and spoke again.

"Close the Thousand Gold Treasury in Muyeondo and build a safe here. Seosan would be good. And since a high pavilion stands out, build a two-story house."

"So you're saying I should do it all?"

"The steward should do it."

"I'm the steward."

"That's right."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Bi-sun laughed in vain. It seemed Jin Sa-wol had already decided everything.

Jin Sa-wol touched the golden ruler and then spoke again.

"Set up a pharmacy in the inn and call Song San-gyeong."

"I will."

"And what about raising your disciples in Muyeondo?"

When Jin Sa-wol asked, Bi-sun's expression hardened.

"The Slaughter Ghosts?"

"Not Slaughter Ghosts, but an orthodox sect. Warriors who are loyal to you, follow my orders, belong to the Martial Alliance, and protect the inn."

"Orthodox... Hahaha! Well, the boundary between orthodox and unorthodox is a thin line, so if they belong to the Martial Alliance, they can be called an orthodox sect. But even if we raise warriors from now on, we can only use them after several years. Are you going to entrust the safety of the inn to the Martial Alliance until then? Or hire?"

Jin Sa-wol showed a strange expression and moved his steps.

"We have to hire."

(End of Chapter)